il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnāt 
illuminated; illuminating
1
a(1)
: to supply or brighten with light
(2)
: to make luminous or shining
b
: to enlighten spiritually or intellectually
c
: to subject to radiation
d
archaic
: to set alight
2
3
: to make illustrious or resplendent
4
: to decorate (something, such as a manuscript) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures
il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-nət
1
archaic
: brightened with light
2
archaic
: intellectually or spiritually enlightened
il·lu·mi·nate
i-ˈlü-mə-nət
archaic
: one having or claiming unusual enlightenment
Examples of illuminate in a Sentence
Verb
the part of the moon illuminated by the sun
A university study has illuminated the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Even the attachments are more impressive, like the Fluffy optic cleaner head, which now has a brighter green light to illuminate invisible dust on hardwood floors.
—PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
There is an entire generation navigating a world that has always been illuminated by the glow of laptops, tablets, and smartphones, living every hour with nearly 24/7 access to a universe of more data and content than past eras could have ever dreamed of amassing.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
For someone like me, who has trouble picturing things that are not immediately in front of her, watching people run up the hill was illuminating.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
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Verb
The Lost Screen Memorial features 50 smartphones illuminated with the lock screen photo of a child whose life was tragically cut short due to online harms, shared by members of The Parent's Network.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Even the attachments are more impressive, like the Fluffy optic cleaner head, which now has a brighter green light to illuminate invisible dust on hardwood floors.
—PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
There is an entire generation navigating a world that has always been illuminated by the glow of laptops, tablets, and smartphones, living every hour with nearly 24/7 access to a universe of more data and content than past eras could have ever dreamed of amassing.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
For someone like me, who has trouble picturing things that are not immediately in front of her, watching people run up the hill was illuminating.
—Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illuminate
Cite this Entry
“Illuminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illuminate. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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